Golf club grip



Jan. 9, 1934. L H GEROW 1,942,922

Filed April 25, 1932 {M w, W

Sum/M11 0 Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE GOLF CLUB GRIP Leonard H. Gerow, Toledo, Ohio Application April 25, 1932. Serial No. 607,269

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a golf club grip, and is designed to improve a faulty club swing by developing a proper control of the club.

In executing a stroke, ordinarily a player takes i stroke.

In the case of the right handed player,

if the back swing is made with the right hand in control of the club, several well recognized faults develop which affect the fiightof the ball almost invariably and objectionably. The most ..common of these faults causes the ball to slice or curve to the right. Right handed control can produce this fault in several ways.

First, the

natural arc of the club with the right shoulder as the pivotal point carries the club head outside of the line of flight. In order to hit the ball, then the club head must cross the line of flight, and, in so doing, causes the ball to rotate, and

the curve results.

If the back swing is properly made with the right hand in control, there is still a tendency to throw the right shoulder forward to start the down swing and change the are on the down swing to produce the same fault. Right hand control also tends to eliminate body turn or pivoting, and, consequently, produces the slice ball. It is generally recognized that the best results are obtained if the left hand has control of the club while the right hand lends force or power to the stroke, and, otherwise aids in the rhythmic movement of arm, body and legs.

The object of the grip device of the present invention is to correct the tendency of some golfers to control the club by the right hand, and by its construction permit the club to operate by the control and pressure of the left hand, in

" case of right hand golfers, and, conversely, so

that after use in practice rounds, the habit of right-handedness is eliminated in the execution of the stroke and the proper hand control becomes natural to deliver a correct and accurate stroke.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention more fully resides in the sundry details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described One form of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a club handle having the device of the invention applied;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

v Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device in its open position and removed from the club; and

Figure 5 is an edge view of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawing wherein like characters denote similar and like parts throughout the several views, 10 denotes the club handle found on the usual golf club 11, which may be of any suitable type, such as a driver, brassie, midiron, mashie, niblic, etc., for either a right or left-hand player. For the purposes of the present disclosure, however, right-handed clubs and right-handed players are referred to.

The grip device 12 of the present invention broadly consists of a tubular grip to extend about the club handle and located in position thereon and of such length as to be gripped by the right hand, and, is so constructed as to permit lateral movement of the club shaft therein and with respect to its axis and the axis of the shaft so that the right hand, when properly placed upon the grip 12 and the left hand placed upon the club handle and above the grip 12, alone cannot prevent, hinder, or influence the oscillating movement of the club head, either when the club is swung upwardly in its backward movement, or as the club has contact with the ball. play between the club shaft or handle, and the grip 12, is sufficient to permit the left hand to be in full control of the club during its pendular swinging motions by taking the loose play out of the swing.

The grip 12 is, preferably, in the form of a tapering cylindrical or tubular truncated cone open at its opposite ends, and having its smaller end a circular, or of such shape as to conform with the contour of the club handle, and of such diameter as to fit the handle snugly, but in the preferred form, the fit should be so tight as to prevent relative turning movements; while the larger end of the grip 12 is oval in shape, having its smaller diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the club handle and its longest diameter such as will permit a liberal lateral movement or play of the club handle therein. For example the longest diameter of the oval end b of the grip This lateral may be approximately one and a half times the diameter of the handle.

As shown, the grip 12 is of two arcuate sections 0 and d hinged together along one of their longitudinal edges by means of a hinge 13, and springs 14 are provided for urging and maintaining the sections open or apart, to facilitate removal of the grip, as shown in Figure 4. The springs 14 may be omitted, if desired, and, in such event, the player opens the sections 0 and d manually, to remove the grip from the club handle.

In use, the grip 12, constructed as shown in Figure 4, is placed in the palm of the right hand so that the smaller end 0. thereof Will be uppermost on the club handle, and, when the right hand grasps the handle of the club, the pressure of the fingers and hand closing about the grip 12 will close the sections 0 and d thereof about the club handle.

By the construction shown in Figure 4, the grip may be released sufficiently to slide the same along the handle of the club to meet the convenience and requirements of the player for each stroke, and when properly adjusted, is held in position by the tightening of the right hand thereabout, which brings the upper end a of the grip 12 in contact with the handle 10.

Of course, it may be understood that care will be exercised by the player, especially if the larger end of the grip is of oval formation, as shown, to have the larger diameter of the end I) of grip 12 in the position to be substantially in the plane of the swinging motion of the club so as to obtain the full benefit of the lateral play of club shaft 11 therein. After the stroke has been executed and the grip of the right hand released from the club, grip 12 may be removed from the handle.

The grip device of the present invention is intended to function as a mechanical aid in the giving of lessons and for use in practice rounds until the natural habit of controlling the club with the right hand is eliminated in the execution of the stroke, and left handed control becomes natural.

An outstanding characteristic of my invention is a grip for the handle of a golf club, which affords relative movement therewith in a direction laterally of the axis of the club. Mani festly, the construction of the grip may vary considerably, and it is intended that the above description be considered as illustrative, and not as limiting. The size and shape of the grip may be varied as desired, and, instead of a two-piece construction, it may be of one-piece and slipped over the handle in any suitable manner, such, for example, as having a slot in the grip enabling it to be slipped into position. Preferably, the grip is made from metal covered with leather, or other suitable fabric, but other materials may be used to advantage, and it is not intended that the'invention be so restricted.

While the form here shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the object primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not in tended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A detachable grip for clubs comprising a pair of complemental hinged plate members curved transversely throughout their lengths and hinged together along one longitudinal edge, said 100 plates being shaped as to form a truncated cone, when in closed position, and means urging said hinged sections to open position.

2. A detachable grip for clubs including a pair of complemental hinged plate members curved 105 transversely throughout their lengths and hinged together along one longitudinal edge, said plates being shaped as to form a truncated cone when in closed position about the handle portion of the club, the smaller end of said grip being adapted m to fulcrum on said handle and its larger end being oblong in formation and permitting lateral movement of the club shaft therein.

3. The combination with a golf club having a shaft with a handle portion to be gripped by the 115 hands of the player, of a grip member mounted for free longitudinal movement on said handle portion and adapted to be gripped by one of the hands of the player, said grip being shaped as to form a truncated cone with the larger end thereof' facing the head of the club and being oblong in formation for permitting lateral movement of the club shaft therein, and the smaller end of said grip being adapted to fulcrum on said handle.

LEONARD H. GEROW. 

